Pacers vs. 76ers Friday in Philadelphia

The Indiana Pacers, mired in a challenging 6-18 start to the 2025-26 NBA season, face the Philadelphia 76ers on Friday night at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia, aiming to extend a recent two-game winning streak against a divisional rival holding a 13-10 record.

The matchup, tipping off at 7 p.m. ET, pits two Eastern Conference teams at different stages of their campaigns. For the Pacers, the absence of star guard Tyrese Haliburton, sidelined for the season with an Achilles injury sustained during last season's NBA Finals, has contributed to one of the league's worst records. Indiana entered the year as runners-up after reaching the championship series, but injuries to multiple players have forced the team to use 22 different athletes this season, the second-highest total in the NBA. Key contributors like forward Obi Toppin (foot), guard Aaron Nesmith (knee), and guard Ben Sheppard (calf) are out, while guard Quenton Jackson remains questionable with a hamstring issue.

Despite the setbacks, the Pacers have shown signs of resilience, securing four wins in their last six games, including victories over the Chicago Bulls, Sacramento Kings, and Washington Wizards. Forward Pascal...